Swing-top functional card-filing systems



May 31, 1966 A. KARPER 3,

SWING-TOP FUNCTIONAL CARD-FILING SYSTEMS Filed March 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Alberf Karper ATTORNEY May 31, 1966 KARPER SWING-TOP FUNCTIONAL CARD-FILING SYSTEMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5B

Filed March 21, 1963 FIG. 5A

1966 A. KARPER 3,253,871

SWING-TOP FUNCTIONAL CARD-FILING SYSTEMS Filed March 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.13

3,253,871 SWING-TOP FUNCTIONAL CARD -FILING SYSTEMS Albert Kai-per, 555 Kappock St., Riverdale, N.Y. Filed Mar. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 266,985 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-184) This invention relates to improvements in rotary card United States Patent filing systems wherein slotted cards are supported or suspended from single or multiple tracks for easy visibility in filing and finding.

Heretofore conventional rotary card filing cards are held or suspended from continuously disposed wheel-type tracks. This method requires continuous rotation of the wheel by-means of knobs outside the housings, consequently a limited number'of cards are brought into filing and finding positions. The knobs must be consistently used for turning or rotating the wheels to the cards desired. Braking mechanisms are required to hold the desired cards in a workable position. This method is time consuming and costly to manufacture. The cards are suspended individually or'in small numbers on the wheel, thus the card mounting is at times as costly as the entire assembly.

Likewise in the portable Wheel-type rotary card files at present on the market each card size requires a new set of dies as the height of the file is calculated by adding the card-widths multiplying by two, then adding the diameter of the wheel to be used, allowing for the pro jecting tabs, and thus an unwieldy unit presents itself for suitable placement on a desk for use. Thus large card sizes cannot be used efiiciently i.e.; 4 x 6, 5 x 8 or 6 x 9 sizes are impossible for efficient manufacture as portable desk-type rotary card files.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a semi-rotary card-filing device which will occupy half the height on a desk, and provide complete visibility and accessibility to all cards at a single turn of the semi-rotary card file. This is accomplished by the use of a pivotally disposed swing-top having single or multiple track-suspension means attached to said swing-top from within.

It is further the object of this invention to provide tracks in straight or in arcuate form either in single or multiple arrangement, whereby said tracks are suitably hinged to permit slotted cards to be assembled in bulk rapidly and efficiently by raising said tracks for such assembly or removal of bulk cards.

Another object of this invention is to provide a functionally devised semi-rotary type card-filing device, whereby the housings and their swing-top cover-elements present a uniform height in all card sizes, permitting changes in the widths of the housings and their pivotally attached swing-top covers. This method of construction permits the use of a single set of dies for all card sizes. method presents a vast saving in tooling costs at the same time presenting functionally designed semi-rotary card files in equal heights for all card sizes, permitting changes in the card-widths only, and this method will not add to the original die cost, nor to the assembly cost. The actual cost variation will be in the increased weight of the material used and the increased cost of the increased widths of the paper to be used.

A still further object of this invention is to permit the use of a fold-over card system in rotary card-files.

It is a further object of this invention to create a filing device of uniform functional height and thus present a semi-rotary card-filing device which will occupy a low height on a desk, no matter which card size is desired, and which is simple in structure for low cost manufacture. Another object is to present a rotating card filing device This ice

in which all cards are supported within a swing-top housing so as to be in full view at a single turn of the swingtop cover, requiring no outside knobs.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a semi-rotary card-filing device which will have a pivotally disposed swing-top in which the point of pivotal attachment is forward in an off center position, the said forward position of the pivotal point being located as to the distance the swing-top cover is desired to be positioned forwand of the housing, for easier and better accessibility and viewing of the cards supported within said swing-top, when said swing-top is moveably rotated to i the open position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a semi-rotary card filing device which will pivotally support a swing-top cover section, which when in closed position will conceal supported cards within said swing-top; and when pivotally swung to open position, said swing-top will bring all cards into full view for filing and finding with a single turn forward of the said swing-top. It is understood said swing-top may have single or multiple tracks suitably attached and/or hinged in position within said swing-top thus carrying all cards suspended therein to open visible filing position at a single forward opening movement of the swing-top.

Another object is to provide a semi-rotary card-filing system, of simple design and construction of the individual portable desk-model unit-housings, each housing having a pivotally supported swing-top having single or multiple track-elements for slotted card suspension.

One of the provisions featuring this invention resides in the provision whereby plain card-holding trays may be constructed to be interchangeable with any housing unit.

It is a further object to provide a simple filing device which will occupy a minimum of desk space and of a uniform minimum height, said filing device to have a pivotally suspended swing-top cover element, said swingtop may be suspended off center on the housing to force said swing top to a position forward of the housing, or said pivotal support may be centrally disposed so as to slightly recess the entire swing-top within the housing, permitting suspended cards housed and supported within the said swing-top to be easily accessible when said swingtop is lifted or raised to the open position for filing and finding.

Another object is to provide a means for easily moving the swing-top cover section with its supported cards, from the horizontal position to the downward forward angular position to permit visible access to the complete fold over card, or to permit use and visibility of the front and back of a card when used individually.

In all cases it should be noted that the swing-top cover permits visibility of all cards at a single turn of the swingtop to the horizontal position, also providinga means for a. further downward angular position for card visibility on both sides.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view .of the drawings and descriptions thereof in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a swing-top filing device in the closed position.

, FIGURE 2 shows a perspective view of the side of a housing of FIG. 1 showing element S for pivoting the swing-top and bullet-catch openings BC.

FIGURE 3 shows side-view of the semi-rotary card filing unit of FIG. 1 showing cards indicated by dotted lines, suspended in arcuate position from the swing-top in its closed position within a housing.

FIGURE 4 shows a semi-rotary type card file of FIG. 1 with the swing-top tray in the open horizontal position wherein all cards are brought into fully accessible view.

FIGURE 5 shows the swing-top tray in a downward angular position for still better view of the cards.

FIGURE 5A shows removable tray with hinged tracks in locked position, the dotted line 11A indicating the upward movement of the tracks for card mounting.

FIGURE 5B shows swing-top cover in open position, ready for seating tray shown in FIGURE 5A.

FIG. 6 shows a modified form of the invention with centrally disposed pivotal points of suspension for the swing-top. Thepivotal center here permits the swingtop cover to recess within the housing to lower the region of accessibility of the cards in filing and finding. FIG- URE 7 shows the swing-top-cover of FIG. 6 with its suspended cards seated in a horizontal position, and FIGURE 8 indicates the pivotal action of the swing-top of FIG. 6 to an angular position for increased complete card visibility or forward and rear card-visibility and accessibility.

FIGURE 9 shows the housing component of FIG. 6. FIGURE 10 shows the swing-top tray compartment or cover in the separated and open position showing suspension tracks hinged and locked in place. The dotted lines indicating the upward movement of the tracks for bulk placement and bulk removal of cards.

FIGURE 11 shows structural arrangement of a foldover card PC for use in the device of FIGS. 1 or 6. In this figure slots SL are narrow and area-saving.

FIGURE 12 shows the fold-over card FC with clip-on attachment CL-l having inturned flanges passed through slots SL shown in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 shows a card construction adapted for use in a semi-rotary device of this invention with clip-on attachment CL-l having out turned flanges.

FIGURE 1 shows semi-rotary swing-top file of this invention. The card shown in FIGURE 11 is adapted to be used in the device of FIG. 1. The purpose here is to create a functional file which may vary in width to accommodate variously sized cards. Thus FIGURE 11 would simulate a 3 X 5 card, folded over from a 7 X 5 inch card or from a 6 by 5 inch card. The desired uniform folding height must be first agreed upon,.then all card heights Will remain the same when folded over. If self-card-tabbing is desired the necessary additional height must be incorporated to equalize the height to be needed by the centrally disposed index-tab. Various methods may be used for attachment or suspension of the cards from the tracks hinged onto or from the swingtop cover 1.

In FIGURES 1, 3, 4, the swing-top cover is indicated by 1. 6 indicates the rear inclined end-section of the swing-top 1, and 6A indicates the lift-handle for pivotally lifting the swing-top upward and forward to the open position shown in FIGURES 4, 7, and 8.

The forward inclined end section 7 of the swing-top 1, interlocks with the lower hinged upper end-section 3A of the forward end of the housing 2, shown in FIGURE 1. The wide flange FL of the housing 2 is part of the structural design of this housing 2 and conceals a projection made part of this housing from within as shown in FIGURE 2. This projection has two bullet-catch receiving holes for bullet-catches BC in said FIGURE 2, said bullet catches act as a flexible braking noise-reducing element when swing-top 1 is pivotally rotated between the inner walls of the housing 2.

It should be understood that the card-heights noted are for descriptive purposes only and are in no way limited to the final decision as to the most versatile height which can or may be universally applied and uniformly used in these semi-rotary card-files with their swing-top pivotally suspended covers. It is also desirable as well as possible to use thinner cards-than are normally used in rotary card files, as the fold-over cards add strength to the slotted portion by means of which the slotted cards are suspended on or from formed track members. Thus the fold-over section will present a double thickness at 4 these points. This will also permit twice the ordinary capacity, when each half of the fold-over card is used individually. The fold-over card will also tend to open to visible filing position because the folded part will tend to flare outward. The fold-over card also serves the added purpose of utilizing large card area in a small easily mobile semi-rotary card filing device, whereby large card filing capacity is housed in a small easily accessible semi-rotary card-file. Further, by using a fold-over card a functional filing system is developed whereby all card-size units will be constructed of equal height. This type of swing-top filing device will occupy a minimum desk-top area, as well as one-half the height of any portable wheel-type rotary card file.

In accordance with this invention, a series of filing devices may be constructed of equal heights to accommodate various card sizes merely by increasing the housing widths, and using fold-over cards of equal heights. Thus the uniform heights of the cards permit single card use in the fold-over position or large card use in the open card position. The uniformity of the card heights therefore permit construction of uniform functional swing-top housings of equal height. Thus it is now possible to provide a fold-over semi-rotary card filing system whereby all housings are of uniform and equal heights, and whereby the said housings vary in widths according to the widths of the cards desired. Similarly, as all cards are of equal height, the centrally disposed index-cards and their tabs are all of the same width and the same height, thus also simplifying the entire method of uniform functional structure thruout this semi-rotary card filing system herein shown.

FIGURE 3 shows a side view of the swing-top 1, semi-rotary card filing unit, said swing-top 1 is pivotally suspended in the closed position within the housing 2, by means of pivotal points 8. The said pivotal suspension points 8 are located forward of center, in order to present the said swing-top in a position forward of the housing when said swing-top is lifted to open forward position for filing as shown in FIGURE 4, with all cards exposed for filing and finding. The angularly disposed positions of the end-sections 6 and 7 within the swingtop cover member 1, permit the cards to flare outward to Wide-angle visibility. In said FIGURE 4 the swingtop 1 is shown in a position forward of the housing 2, which presents better means of greater accessibility and better viewing. The positioning of the pivotal suspension means at 8 likewise permits the swing-top cover 1 to be recessed within the housing 2 when in the open position for filing, bringing the cards to a lower plane for easier reach on operation of the cards. In all figures showing the swing-top 1 in the closed position above and within the housing 2 on its pivotally supported means at 8, the swing-top cover is shown at all times to project above the said housing 2. This is constructed so as to permit recessing of the said swing-top 1 within the housing when in the open position for filing. In the first opening movement of the swing-top 1, said swing-top assumes a horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 4, resting on the upper end of the hinged element 3A; and by moving,

lever 4 of the hinged element 3A to the downward position 3A as shown in FIGURE 5 permits the swing-top 1 to move to an angular position as shown in said FIG- URE 5, thus permitting full visibility of the complete fold-over-card PC as a large over-sized filing card rotating in a semi-rotary card filing device. This additional angular downward movement of the swing-top pivotally suspends cover-element 1 likewise to permit use of both sides of the card when the fold over cards are used as separate cards.

In FIGURE 3 -is seen a side view of the semi-rotary swing-top filing device in the closed position with the cards CS arcuately suspended from the suspended trackmembers within the inverted swing-top cover 1, thus showing the compactness of this structure and the extremely low height this semi-rotary filing device occupies when placed on a desk.

In FIGURE 5B is shown the swing-top tray 1 showing the angularly disposed sides 6 and 7 and the pivotal suspension points of said top 1 from 8, and the side walls SW, which support said pivotal suspension point 8. The points indicate the locating positions for seating the tray member TRA within the inverted swing-top ST, the tray-member TRA with its arcuate track members 11 shown in FIGURE 5A. Track members 11 are arcuately hinged at H' for easy upward and downward movement and said track members are locked into place at H2 in said FIGURE 5A. Track-members 11 are therefore moveably hinged at H on the rear section of the tray 7A said track-members being moveable upwards to dotted lines indicated by 11A for bulk mounting of cards and bulk removal of cards.

FIGURE 6 is similar to the FIGURE 3, except that in FIGURE 6 the pivotal supporting means 8A in the housing 2 is centrally located, instead of off center as in FIG. 3 and the member 3 of said housing 1 is a single section meeting an elongated end section 7. The swingtop ST is shown in the open filing position in FIGURE 7 horizontally disposed, and showing all cards at a glance. In this FIGURE 7 the track-members TR are shown in part and may support cards shown in FIGURE 11. In FIGURE 8 the swing-top ST is shown tilted downward to a secondary angular position thus permitting viewing and writing on front of one card or on its back. The arcuate arrows ARC shown in FIGURES 6, 7, and 8 indicate the movement of the swing-top ST from closed position as in FIGURE 6 to open positions in FIGURES 7 and 8 respectively, by means of a lift-handle 6A attached to end-section 6 of the swing-top ST. FIGURE 10 shows the swing-top ST used in FIGURES 6, 7, and 8 respectively. In this FIGURE 10 the arcuate trackmembers TR are hingedly attached to end-section 7 of the open swing-top ST. The said track members 11 are shown in the open position as 11A for bulk placement or bulk removal of cards. FIGURE 9 shows an open housing showing centrally disposed pivotal member 8A, for pivotally supporting the swing-top ST shown in FIG- URE 10.

FIG. 11 shows the fold-over cards PC for 'use with this invention. In FIGURE 11 two narrow slots are suitably disposed along the folding edge of the fold-over card PC, the slots in this FIGURE 11 create a minimum loss of filing or writing area on the fold-over card. This is indicated in the folded card in FIGURE 12. Where a formed clip-on device indicated in position by the dotted line in this FIGURE 12 as CL-l, the projecting lips or flanges CLF, are the extensions which are slipped thru the slots SL of the fold-over card FC in FIGURE 11, the slots are indicated by SL shown in both FIGURES l1 and 12 respectively. The extension lips CLF in FIG- URE 12 are the means by which the said card is held in place on the tracks.

From the foregoing it will be noted that while the respective housings may take on various configurations, the variously adaptable trays may be interchanged from one housing to another. It is therefore possible to attain a maximum amount of variety with a minimum of toolingcost. It may also be noted that when this filing system is used in conjunction with the fold-over cards the uniform card-heights and the uniform track-widths in either the single or multiple track arrangements, that the indexing alphabetical system retains a single uni-form set of dies may be used in all the individual portable units, eliminating costly investments in dies and thus producing a functional product at a price within the reach of the ultimate consumer.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it is to be appreciated. that the instant invention is not to be taken as limited to all the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

It must be added that in FIGURES 11, 12, and 13 clip-adaptors OL1 may be variously formed for holding the cards in suspension on formed tracks hingedly supported on or within the swing-top member ST, and the width and height, thus eliminating numerous divisional divisions as well as multiplicity of the positional arrangement of the indexing method. Further, the housing components of the variously shown housings comprise simple structures. that can be easily fabricated and assembled, as' these structures have been devised for functional stability, and the advantages thus attained are favorable from a manufacturing point of view, whereby a uniform purpose of these adaptors is to form a new method of supporting cards on semi-rotary card filing systems herein described. Whereas in FIGURES 11 and 13 these adaptors are made of thin flexible material, they may be made of thin spring-wire formed to flex for insertion thru slot of foldover card SL shown in FIGURE 11. The purpose of these clip-on adaptors for this semi-rotary card filing system is to provide the most flexible method of using adaptors for supporting'fold-over cards on suspension type filingsystems used in conjunction with single or multi-track card filing.

What is claimed is:

1. A semi-rotary file comprising:

(a) an open top housing including a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, and

( b) opposed end walls interconnected between said side walls,

(c) each of said end walls being inclined upwardly and outwardly, said end walls terminating at a point intermediate the height of said side walls,

(I) one of said end walls having a lower portion and an upper portion, said upper portion being hingedly connected along the adjacent edges thereof,

(e) a swing top closure,

(f) said closure including a wall portion defining the top of said file in the closed position, and a pair of end sections flaring outwardly and downwardly from said top of the closure when in the closed position thereof,

(g) means for pivotally connecting said closure about fixed pivots between said side walls whereby said closure can be swung between open and closed position about said fixed pivots,

(h) and means connected between the end sections of said closure for holding a filing card thereon in either position of said closure.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said end sections of said closure.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed pivots are disposed closer to one end section of the closure than to the other end section thereof.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said latter means includes spaced apart tracks extending between the end sections of said closure.

6. A semi-rotary file comprising;

(a) an open top housing including a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, and

(b) opposed end walls interconnected. between said side walls,

(c) each of said end walls being inclined upwardly and outwardly,-said end walls terminating at a point intermediate the height of said side walls,

(d) a swing-top closure,

(e) said closure including a wall portion defining the top, of said file in the closed position, and a pair of end sections flaring outwardly and downwardly from said top of the closure when in the closed position thereof,

(f) means for pivotally connecting said closure about fixed pivots between said side walls whereby said closure can be swung between open and closed positions about said fixed pivots,

(g) and means connected between the end sections of said closure for holding a filing card thereon in either'position of said closure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1930 Haskin 312-233 X.

2/1921 Jones 129-16] 15 8 2,264,419 12/1941 Unger 312233 2,284,586 5/1942 McDermott 12916.7 2,321,682 6/1943 Hurley 129-43 2,429,729 10/ 1947 Miller 129-16 2,503,611 4/1950 Br uen 312189 X 2,504,799 4/ 1950 Bruen 129-43 2,703,744 3/1955 Karper 312+189 2,999,502 9/1961 Joyce 12916 FOREIGN PATENTS 454,253 1/1949 Canada. 1,120,426 12/ 1961 Germany.

485,085 5/1938 Great Bnitain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, FRANK B. SHERRY,

Examiners. 

6. A SEMI-ROTARY FILE COMPRISING; (A) AN OPEN TOP HOUSING INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIDE WALLS, AND (B) OPPOSED END WALLS INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, (C) EACH OF SAID END WALLS BEING INCLINED UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY, SAID END WALLS TERMINATING AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE HEIGHT OF SAID SIDE WALLS, (D) A SWING-TOP CLOSURE, (E) SAID CLOSURE INCLUDING A WALL PORTION DEFINING THE TOP OF SAID FILE IN THE CLOSED POSITION, AND A PAIR OF END SECTIONS FLARING OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TOP OF THE CLOSURE WHEN IN THE CLOSED POSITION THEREOF, (F) MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID CLOSURE ABOUT FIXED PIVOTS BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS WHEREBY SAID CLOSURE CAN BE SWUNG BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS ABOUT SAID FIXED PIVOTS, (G) AND MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN TEH END SECTIONS OF SAID CLOSURE FOR HOLDING A FILING CARD THEREON IN EITHER POSITION OF SAID CLOSURE. 